Hearse



March 26, 1935. E, E. HEss ET AL HEARSE Filed March 1, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f! I lllll II! HEARSE E. E. HESS El AL Filed March 1, 1933 $5 um .mQ

March 26, 1 935.

W ml wmi 9 Svg March 26, 1935. E. E. HEss ET AL 1,995,640

' HEARSE Filed March 1, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1/3 0 11.7 INVENTOPS.

Patented Mar. 26, 1935 7 Ohio, assignors to The Sayers '& Scovili Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 1, 1933, Serial No. 659,096

4 Claims.

t is the object of our invention to provide new and useful improvements in hearses whereby to facilitate the loading and the unloading of a casket; further, 'to provide novel means for mounting'a casket-supporting table, and novel means for controlling the positions of the same; further, to provide novel means for holding the table to the vehicle; further, to provide novel .means whereby to adapt the vehicle for use as a hearse and for use as an ambulance; and further, to provide novel means for locating the casket in the vehicle. 1

It is the object of our invention, further, to provide a novel arrangement for the interior of a vehicle of this character whereby a seat or seats are provided at the side of said interior; further, to provide novelpositioning meansat the side-of the interior of the vehicle whereby to secure a cot in the vehicle so asto' prevent movement thereof while the vehicle is traveling; and further, to provide such means in non-interfering relation with the casket space in the vehicle. I

The invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of our improved device in a vehicle, partly in horizontal section and-partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, with the rear doors shown open, and the vehiclepartly broken away. y g a A Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a detail showing the mounting of a casket-supporting roller, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on the line 4--4 of ,Fig. 1, showing the tablelocking means, and partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a plan section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and partly broken away. V

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section showing a detail of the table-mounting, taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1, and partly broken away.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal; section of the same, taken on the line '7-7 of Fig.6, and partly broken away. V i

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of a detail of our improved device, taken in the plane of the line 88 of Fig. 6, and partly broken away.

Fig; 9 is a vertical cross-section of a detail 0 the control means. for the table, taken in the plane of the line 99 of Fig. '7, and partly broken way. i

Fig.- 10 is across-section of the same, taken in the planeof the line 10--1 0 of Fig. 9.

I Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section showing hold-down means for the table, taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, and partly broken away. Fig. 12 is across-section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 12-12 of Fig. 11, partly broken away. I

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section of a detail of the cot-securing means, taken on the; line 13-43 of Fig. 15, and partly broken away.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section showing the conline 14-14 of Fig. 1, and partly broken away.

Fig. 15 is a rear elevation of my improved device showing the rear doors open and the vehicle partly broken away, and disclosing the interior arrangement of the vehicle when employing the sameas an ambulance with a seat shown at one side of the interior of the vehicle in use position in full lines, and in retracted position in dotted lines.

Fig. 16 is a crosssection of the seat support, taken in the plane of: the line 16-16 of Fig. 1'7, and-partly broken away.

Fig. 17. is a vertical section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 1'7--17 of Fig. 16, and partly broken away.

Fig. 18 is a horizontal section of a detail of the same, taken in the plane of the line 18-48 of Fig. 19, and partly broken away; and,

Fig. 19 is a vertical section of the same, taken in the plane of theline 19-19 of Fig. 18, and partly broken away.

The body of the vehicle, exemplified at 21, is provided with a casket compartment 22 and a drivers compartment 23 between which there is a partition 24, although the partition may if desired be omitted. (Fig. 1.) A seat 25 is provided in the forward portion of the body for the driverand attendants.

The body is provided with a floor 28, in which there is a recess 29. (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.) A table 30 is movable lengthwise of the floor in the recess, and is supported by rollers 31 rotatably ,mounted in the floor. The bottom of the table corner pieces 37 having similar depending flanges.

The side walls of the recess 29 are provided with similar moldings 38, having depending flanges 39. The latter moldings may extend along the rear edges of ledges 40 at the respective sides of the table.

The upper surface of the table is provided with attaching plates 43 (Figs. 1 and 3) secured to the table by screws 45. Rollers 46 are journaled in roller-frames 47, having flanges 48 at their respective ends, through which screws 49 pass into threaded holes 50 in said attaching plates. A suitable number of such rollers is provided for properly receiving and supporting a casket on the table. The roller-frames may be removed by merely unscrewing the screws 49 at the respective ends of said frames for leaving a substantially flush upper surface for the table when such is desired.

The front end of the table is provided with a pin-plate 51 (Figs. 1, 6 and 8). This pin-plate has depending lugs 52 in the form of cylinders which enter holes 53 in the table, and have holes 54 in which shanks 55 of bier-pins 56 are received, said bier-pins having cushioning outer bodies 57 about them, so that contact therewith by the casket may not injure the casket.

The rear end of the table is provided with a pin-plate 61 having depending lugs 62 in the form of cylinders and having holes 63 in which the shanks of the bier-pins may be received. These lugs are received in holes 64 in the table.

The pin-plates with the depending lugs extend a suflicient distance from the ends of the table to receive the bier-pins at the respective ends of the casket when the casket is located on the table, the lugs being seated securely in the holes in the table for reinforcing the pin-plates. The pin-plates at the ends of the table must resist the greatest stresses.

Intermediate pin-plates 66, 6'7, extend lengthwise of the table in line with the end pin-plates, and are provided with holes 68 which register with holes 69 in the table. The pin-plates 51, 61, and 66, 6'7 are additionally secured to the table by means of suitable screws.

Lateral pin-plates 71 are also secured to the table, and are provided with holes 72, which register with corresponding holes in the table for receiving the shanks of lateral bier-pins '73 for locating the casket sidewardly.

The outer end of the pin-plate 61 is provided with a bearing 75, which extends bracket-wise beyond the end of the body of the table. A handle rod 76 is located in this bearing and in the bearings 7'7, 78, fixed to the respective side portions of the rear end of the table. This handle rod may be grasped when pulling or pushing the table.

Means are provided for holding the forward end of the table toward the floor and to prevent tipping of the table when the table is moved rearwardly, whereby its rear end extends beyond the rear end of the floor. This is accomplished by means of a dovetailed slot and lug connection between the forward end of the table and the floor, the slot being shown in the floor and the lug on the table.

Thus the floor is provided with a slot 81 extending lengthwise of the vehicle. (Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.) A metal plate 82 is provided with a slot 83 and with a hole 84 wider than said slot at one end of the slot. The plate is fixed to the upper surface of the floor in such manner that the side walls of the slot in the plate overhang the side walls of the slot in the floor for forming lips which overhang the slot in the floor.

Screws 85 are received through registering holes in this plate in the floor and in a reinforce piece 86 under the floor, nuts 87 being received over the threaded ends of the screws for clamping these parts together, and forming a rigid structure capable of resisting great upward strains upon the lips or ledges. This reinforce piece preferably covers the bottom of the slot in the floor.

A bolt 91 is fixed in a threaded hole 92 of a plate 93 let into a recess 94 in the lower face of the table, and fixed to the table by means of screws 95 passing through holes 96 in the table, and threaded into the plate 93, washers 97 between the heads of said screws and the table, aiding in rigidity of the parts.

The head 98 of the bolt 91 is received through the hole 84 at the end of the slot 83, and, when the table is moved rearwardly, is received under the lips formed by the margins of the slot 83 in the plate 82. A closing plate 101 has a notch 102 which registers with the slot 83 and a depending boss 103, which is received in the hole 84, the lower face of the boss being substantially in the plane of the lower faces of the lips 104 formed by the overhanging side walls of the slot 83.

The shank of the bolt is received along the slot 83 and the notch 102. The upper face of the head of the bolt preferably has slide connection with the lower faces of said lips 104 and said boss 103 for holding the table downwardly to the floor and preventing the upward tipping of the forward end of the table when a load is placed on the rear end of the table when the table is in rear position so that its rear end extends beyond its supports on the floor. This construction also holds the forward end of the table toward the floor for preventing upward vibration of the table while the vehicle is traveling. The plate 101 is fixed to the plate 82 and the table by means of screws 105.

Hold-down means 109 are provided between the rear end of the table and the body of the vehicle, exemplified as comprising tongues 108, 110 and a coacting keeper 111, secured respectively to the table and the floor. (Figs. 1, l1 and 12.) The shanks of the tongues are respectively inclined so as to be readily received in the keeper while the table is moved respectively inwardly and outwardly, adjacent the ends of the inward and outward movements. The bases 112, 112', of the respective tongues 108 and 110 are fixed to the table by screws 113, 113, and the flanges 114 of the keeper are fixed to the floor by screws 115.

When the table has been moved inwardly or outwardly to full extent, the respective tongues and the keeper are preferably in intimate engagement to hold the table rigidly toward the floor, to prevent, respectively, vibration or bouncing of the table during travel of the vehicle, and unintentional raising of the table during loading and unloading.

The outward movement of the table is further limited by having the shank of the bolt 91 engage the rear end wall of the slot 83.

The table is preferably locked rigidly in place when in extreme inward position for preventing lengthwise movements or vibration of the table during travel and for holding the table in secure position in the vehicle when manipulating the casket on the table when in such forward position. The table is also preferably locked when in rear overhanging relation, which is the usual relation of the table when loading or unloading a casket, so that the table may not move-during such loading or unloading.

The lock is exemplified as comprising a pin 121, which is slidable endwise in the bearing 122 on a bearing plate 123 fixed to the table. (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5.) A lever 124 has articulation with the pin at 125, and is pivoted on a pivot pin 126 on a plate 127. The lever is also guided in slots 128, 129, in straps 130, 131. These parts are located in a recess 132, in the under face of the table, the pivot plate and the straps being fixed to the upper wall of said recess by suitable screws. The outer end of the lever projects through a slot 133 in the depending flange 36 at the rear end of the table, and is provided with a handle 134, shown as a knob.

The pin 121 is received past the lower edges .of the flanges 36 and 39, and is arranged to enter holes 137, 138 in a keeper plate 139 let into a recess in the side wall of the ledge 40 and fixed therein by suitable screws. A spring 140, the ends of which are secured respectively to the inner end of the lever and the table, normally urges the pin into locking relation with either hole 137 or 138, at the respective forward and rearward end limits of movement of the table.

Side shoes 141 are fixed to the side walls of the recess in which the table moves, for guiding the rear portion of the table laterally with little friction, the forward end of the table being guided laterally by co-action of the shank of the bolt 91 with the inner edges of the lips 104, the table also moving on the rollers 31 in the floor for providing ease of movement to the table inwardly and outwardly, whether or not the casket is on the same.

A cushioning bumper 145 (Figs. 1, 6 and 8) serves as a stop to limit forward movement of the table without jar. It is preferably secured to the body of the vehicle, as to the partition 24.

The body of the vehicle is provided with a. rear door or doors for giving full clearance at the rear of the body for movement of the table and the casket, the outer box, the cot or other article thereon (Figs. 1, 2 and 15). Doors 151, 152, which swing outwardly laterally upon hinges 153, 154, are exemplified. The seat portion of the vehicle is provided with side doors 155, 156 swinging on hinges 157, 158.

The forward end of the compartment 22 in the rear of the partition 24 is provided with side doors 159, 160 pivoted on hinges 161, 162 for ready access to the forward end of the casket or table and for entrance into the compartment in the rear of the drivers seat, if desired.

The interior of the vehicle is, at the sides of the recess 29, in which the table 30 moves, provided with the ledges 40, 40, in which socket pieces 165 are located adjacent their inner margins.

These socket pieces are provided with holes for receiving the shanks of bier-pins, such as hereinbefore described, so as to form cushioning side contacts for rough boxes,vaults and other objects as wide or wider than the table.

Our improved device is further constructed so that it may be employed as an ambulance. (Figs. 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19.) One of the ledges 40 is shown provided with socket-plates 171 provided with depending lugs 172, having tapering sockets 173, and received through holes 174 in the top wall of said ledges, said plates being fixed to said ledges by screws 175. Suitable chairs 176 are arranged to be releasably secured to said socketplates, provision being shown for two such chairs at one side of the interior of the vehicle.

Each of the chairs is provided with a post 179, the lower end of which has a tapered shank 180 fitting the tapered socket 173. The shank is bent laterally, as shown at 181, and is at its upper end provided with a hinge 182 for the seat 183 of the chair. This hinge is shown comprising a bracket 184 to which the seat of the chair is fixed, and having a slot 185 in which the upper end of the shank is received, a pivot bolt 186 being received through the walls of said slot and the upper end of the shank for pivoting the sea to the frame.

A back 137 is provided for the seat, and is pivoted to the rear of the seat by hinges 188, so that the back may be laid forwardly upon the seat, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15. When the back is so laid upon the seat, the seat with the folded back thereon may be swung upwardly for moving the seat and its back toward the side wall 189 of the vehicle, so as to clear the space above the table and prevent interference between a casket or other article on the table and said seats.

The other side wall 190 of the compartment is provided with brackets 191, having tapering sockets 192 therein for receiving the corresponding tapered ends of brackets 193, 194. Hooks 195, 196 extend from the respective brackets, being shown at the ends of shanks on said brackets.

One of these shanks is preferably adjustable lengthwise in a slot 197 in one of the brackets, being fixed in adjusted positions by a set screw 198.

A cot 201 is arranged to be received in the compartment, the posts 202, 203 respectively at the head and foot of the cot being arranged to have the hooks 195, 196 received snugly thereabout for locating the cot in secure position in the vehicle, so as to prevent movement or jarring of the cot during travel of the vehicle. The adjustment provided for the shank of the hook permits rigid positioning of the cot in the vehicle.

When the vehicle is intended tobe used as an ambulance, the roller frames 47 are preferably removed by removal of the screws 49, so as to provide additional level condition of the table and permit additional ready manipulation of the cot on the table. If it is desired to use the vehicle as an ambulance, the table may be moved rearwardly, so as to project rearwardly beyond the rear doors, and the cot with the patient thereon lifted on to the table. The cot may be moved forwardly on the table, it being understood that the seats have been meanwhile placed in retracted positions, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15,

and the table may also be moved forwardly with,

the cot thereon. After the table has been so moved forwardly and locked in position, the cot may be moved laterally toward the side wall and fixed in position by means of the securing hooks 195, 196.

If desired, the top of the table may be provided with a rug 205,- and the tops of the ledges may be provided with rug strips 206, 207, the upper faces of the rugs being substantially on a level with the upper faces of the strips and plates secured to the table and ledges. If desired, the rug and rug strips may be provided with suitable openings for accommodating the protruding parts of the fixtures on the table and ledges.

When the rear doors are open, the table may be moved so as to project to a considerable distance beyond said doors and the floor of the vehicle, in order that the casket or other article may be readily placed thereon, the table being locked in such position by the lock so as to prevent movement thereof during the loading operation.

The casket may be positioned on the table while the table is in such rearwardly extending position and the bier-pins put in place so as to definitely locate the casket upon the table. The table may then be moved inwardly and locked in place by the lock 120, such inward movement also causing engagement between the automatically operating hold-down means 110, 111, at the rear portion of the table for holding the table firmly to the vehicle. Upward tilting of the table is avoided by the shiftable connection of the forward hold-down means comprising the bolt 91 between the table and the floor for holding the forward end of the table downwardly in all the positions of the table, and by the hold-down means 109.

During such use of the vehicle the seats may be collapsed and tilted against the wall of the vehicle, or they may be removed, and the hook brackets at the other wall of the vehicle may also be removed.

The handle rods by means of which the table is moved forwardly and back in the vehicle and the knob for the locking means therefor are in close adjacency for ready manipulation of the parts. All of the parts move quietly, so that noise and jar are avoided.

The same vehicle may be used as an ambulance by placing a cot on the table with the patient therein while the table is in rearwardly extended relation and by moving the table inwardly with the cot thereon, and then shifting the cot into secured relation with the side brackets at one side of the vehicle, the seats during this manipulation being retracted, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, whereupon the seats may be lowered so that the nurse, physician or other attendant may comfortably accompany the patient during travel of the vehicle.

The floor and the table may be constructed of laminated wood, glued together as indicated in Fig. 14. The floor may rest upon and be secured to suitable sill strips 210, 211, and corresponding lengthwise sill strips, which are in turn fixed to supporting sill strips 212, the rear end of which throughout the width of the floor may be projected rearwardly beyond the floor, as shown at 213, and have a metal scufi plate 214 secured thereto, which extends across the opening at the rear of the vehicle.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a hearse, the combination of a body, a table therein arranged to support a casket and shiftable lengthwise along the lengthwise dimension of said body, a bier-pin plate extending lengthwise on said table, said bier-pin plate provided with depending lugs having upright holes for receiving the shanks of bier-pins, said table provided with recesses in which said lugs fit crosssectionally for rigidly positioning said bier-pin plate laterally and lengthwise in said table, means clamping said bier-pin plate to said table, and a hold-down for said table under said bier-pin plate comprising an attaching plate let into the under face of said table and means securing said attaching plate into the under face of said table, said attaching plate forming a support for said depending lugs.

2. In a hearse, the combination of a body, a table therein arranged to support a casket and shiftable lengthwise along the lengthwise dimension of said body, a bier-pin plate at the rear end of said table extending lengthwise of said table and rearwardly beyond the rear end of said table and having upright holes for receiving the shanks of bier-pins for the rear end of a casket on said table, and a handle-rod for said table to the rear end of said table having attachment with said rearwardly extending portion of said bier-pin plate beyond the rear end of said table.

3. In a hearse, the combination of a body having a floor provided with a middle recess having side walls at the respective sides of said recess extending lengthwise of said body, a table shiftable endwise in said recess, a hold-down between the forward end of said table and the forward end of said floor parallel with said side walls, said table and said floor constituting a. pair of members, said hold-down including parallel lips having a slot between them extending parallel with said side walls and having attachment with one of said members and a headed projection having a shank fixed to the other of said members, said shank located in said slot and said head located and held by said lips at the side of said lips removed from said other of said members, and the rear ends of the side walls of said middle recess provided with side contact shoes coacting with various portions of the side edges of said table and acting with said lips and headed projection to guide the side edges of said table during endwise shifting movements of said table.

4. In a hearse, the combination of a body having a bottom recess extending lengthwise of said body, a table extending lengthwise in said recess and shiftable endwise therein, rearwardly extending brackets at the rear end of said table, a handle-rod extending cross-wise of the rear end of said table spaced from said rear end and secured to said brackets, means limiting endwise movements of said table in said recess, a locking bolt between the ends of said table, keepers therefor on the wall of said recess in positions to co-operate with said bolt at the respective limits of endwise movements of said table, and a handle on said table in the space between the rear end of said table and said handle-rod having operative connection with said bolt.

EMIL E. HESS. RAYMOND R. SMITS. 

